Publish polished student writing inspired by this contest-winning photo here!

[Publishing Voice]

Each year, the WritingFix website sponsors a Digital Photo Contest for students and teachers nationwide.  The goal is for students to take pictures that would inspire their classmates to want to write the "story behind a picture."

 

Click here to access WritingFix's Digital Photo Resource Page! 

 

At right, you see the student-winning digital photograph from our 2010 contest.  It was taken by middle school student Nicole Gallant.  You can enlarge the picture by clicking on.

 

If you use this photo in class as a writing prompt, and then have a student like what they're writing so much that they take their writing through the writing process, we want to see their published stories posted here!

 

Post no rough drafts...please.  We're looking for polished writing inspired by this photograph!  Final drafts of stories can be pasted or attached in the "Reply to This" box below.

 

Very Important:  Teachers, please only share your students' first name and grade level with us when you post the writing on their behalf.  Do not post last names or school names, or the posts will be deleted.

 

Twenty-five Teachers every semester will win a free classroom resource!  Each semester, we choose 25 new students to publish at our online lessons directly at the world-famous WritingFix website. To have your students' writing considered, it can be posted below in the box underneath  this posting.  In November and May, we will select the 25 students whose writing impressed us the most, and if your student(s) is selected, you will be asked to choose from any of the NNWP Print Publications (http://www.unr.edu/educ/nnwp/publications.html) for us to send to your classroom.

 

Help us celebrate your writers.

 

--Corbett Harrison, WritingFix Webmaster

[Nancy Schneider]

GIFTED

 

Born with gifted fingers moving in a way

the power to play

on a instrument

of ivory keys

 

It creates a lullaby

so lovely and sweet

that right when you hear it

you fall in a sleep

 

It mesmerizes you

because of the magical power

of the Baldwin ivory keys.

 

By:  Baldwin Keys (Kaila)

[Nancy Schneider]

                                          The Blind Pianist  

 

 

      Callie was a six year old girl she was blind. Her mom and dad tried to do what’s best for her but Callie wanted to play piano. Nobody thought she could because she was blind. Callie begged her mom everyday about it her mom finally gave in and said ok.

Callie ate breakfast with her dad’s help and waited for a long time. She became sleepy and fell asleep.

The next morning Callie got her sight seeing dog Max. They went into the kitchen ate breakfast and went to get a teacher for Callie. All of them except one shook their heads “no” and sent her off; But the one said ok because she saw something in Callie. She taught her everything she knew. Callie was able to play songs she couldn’t play if the teacher told her the notes.

 Callie was walking home with Max by a school. Kids saw the sheet music and laughed. Callie felt depressed. Callie tried harder each day but boys and girls still laughed.

 Callie’s mom bought a piano and moved it into their house. Callie couldn’t see it but her mom said it was a Baldwin piano. Callie played beautifully. A business man overheard and knocked on the door. He told Callie’s mom who he was and they talked.

  He left and her mom gathered up her family and told them that he wanted Callie to play at his show he was hosting. Callie was nervous but decided to perform.

 (Weeks later) Callie got up and got ready and they drived to the place where she was to perform. Callie got on stage with her dad’s help. She felt the keys and started to play, when she finished people were cheering and getting on their feet and some were looking for a radio.

 Each time she performed Callie’s audience grew. And finally she got famous and got up on a big stage. Her dad helped her up as always and she started to play. It sounded like angels singing. She became a star and had a family when she got older. Callie continued to play and her teacher said she did the impossible.

 

By:  Chloe 

[Beatriz Soto]

 "Dusty Keys" by Paola. Grade 10

 

            His small, young finger glides through every key on his piano.

            Dust collect through his skin…he sneezes.

            He presses firmly on the first key.

            He closes his eyes and plays.

            Soft music is heard from a distance.

            It is she.

 

            His big, old finger sways through every key on the church’s piano.

            Holy dust collects on his skin; it gathers at his ring….he sneezes.

            He quickly plays.

            He closes his eyes and plays his wedding song.

            Grand music is heard from her.

            It is she, in her white gown.

 

            His fragile, wrinkly finger tries to press down every key on his piano.

            Dust collects on his cracked hands…he sneezes and relives the pain.

            He puts force on the first key.

            He closes his eyes and remembers the past.

            Sad music is heard from down below.

            It is she, who can hear the melody, even from 6 feet under.

[Nancy Schneider]

Skating Alone

 

 

I sit and I wait

Until I’m ready to skate

I’ll go round and round

Up high and low,

Who knows where I’ll go!

It would be great, if you could skate,

And create our figure eight.

My player and I go hand in hand

not leaving our awestruck

Stuck in the sand

 

I hope and I pray,

That finally one day

My music will fill the rinks and the cities

But ‘till that day, once more I hope and pray

That someone will say “Wow! You and me should play together.”

And once more my music will live on

Forever and ever.

 

 

Sincerely: The Lonely Piano (Holly)

 

[Nancy Schneider]

Fingers on the Piano.

 

As I lay my fingers

On the keys and start to play,

the music lingers,

then I spread my fingers apart

across the piano,

and my ears go afloat

My finger nails tap the keys

along with the soothing softness.

As my eyes follow the music,

the pages flip

from the wind

coming through the window.

 

 

By: Abby

 

[Nancy Schneider]

When My Fingers Touch

The Keys

 

When my fingers touch the keys,

I feel a refreshing summer breeze,

When my fingers start to play,

Everything around me starts to play,

When my fingers touch the keys,

During my own time of ease,

As I play all the notes,

I don’t mean to boast,

I sound pretty elegant,

Well at last better than an elephant.

Today is my day to shine!

 

By: Annie

 

 

[Beatriz Soto]

"My Hands, My Instrument" by Joel, Grade 10

My hands are my instrument to a beautiful melody

They are the key to a soothing sound

They are all i need to make music come to life

The touching of the piano keys is as gentle as a flower in the spring

The note is only right when you play the right white key

There is no end to the unstoppable hands that were made to play

The piano is nothing without the fingers maneuvering each note

There is no magic if it is played without love

There is success when the hands take the lead to a perfect score

My hands are my instrument to a beautiful melody

[Lisa Langlois]

6th Grader

Piano Mystery

The piano was lonely

all in the dark.

Somebody was lost,

walking around and around and around in circles,

then she thought that she saw something in the far distance.

 It got closer…… and closer…… and closer……,

until she realized that she was walking and getting closer to the mysterious thing.

She realized that the mysterious thing was just the most beautiful thing…… a piano!

She found the piano.

It was just in the middle of nowhere,

so she started to play,

and it was magical so she got to go home.

Then the girl and the piano lived happily ever after hoping to see each other again!

[Ashley Crossno]

Practice Makes Perfect, 5th Grade

Sound, 5th Grade

[Ashley Crossno]

Letting Go, 5th grade

Music for Memory, 5th Grade

The Life Changer, 5th Grade

 

[Ashley Crossno]

The Magic, 5th Grade

The Talent, 5th Grade

Why Don't They Understand Me? A story about Autism, 5th Grade

 

 

[Jo Hill]

By Noah   Grade 7